Hepatitis C is the infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. In the United States, about 3.2 million people have the disease. There are few symptoms, so most people do not know they have it. Although there are only a few symptoms, those infected can notice jaundice, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. The disease is spread through the blood or bodily fluids of someone who is infected, so a person may catch the virus by sharing drugs and needles, having sex, being stuck by infected needles, and birth (mothers can pass it to their children). Most people who are affected are those who received blood or organ transplant from a donor with the disease, those who have injected drugs, those who have HIV and those who were born to a mother with the disease. People who have hepatitis C can develop a long-term infection called chronic hepatitis C. This infection can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis, and scarring of the liver.
Figure 1: A model of the hepatitis C virus. The image shows the core, RNA and E protein. References:
Kao, C. C.; Yi, G.; Huang, H. C., The core of hepatitis C virus pathogenesis. Curr Opin Virol 2016,17, 66-73.
Delivery method: Pill Side effects: Other names: ledipasvir-sofosbuvir
Maker or company:Gilead Sciences Inc. Is it patented? Yes Clinical Trials Info: Those who had ben preiously treated for hepatitis C (type 1) had a cure rate for cirrhosis of 97-100% for 24 weeks of treatment while those with no cirrhosis had a 95% cure rate in 24 weeks of treatment.
Origin:
Alternatives to this drug: Miscellaneous: Other uses: can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions?
Disease/Drug of interest:
Motivation and Background:
Hepatitis C is the infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. In the United States, about 3.2 million people have the disease. There are few symptoms, so most people do not know they have it. Although there are only a few symptoms, those infected can notice jaundice, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea, and fatigue. The disease is spread through the blood or bodily fluids of someone who is infected, so a person may catch the virus by sharing drugs and needles, having sex, being stuck by infected needles, and birth (mothers can pass it to their children). Most people who are affected are those who received blood or organ transplant from a donor with the disease, those who have injected drugs, those who have HIV and those who were born to a mother with the disease. People who have hepatitis C can develop a long-term infection called chronic hepatitis C. This infection can cause liver cancer, cirrhosis, and scarring of the liver.Figure 1: A model of the hepatitis C virus. The image shows the core, RNA and E protein.
References:
External links:
Target Information:
Size: molecular weight of the protein
Location:
Function in a normal cell:
Drug Information:
Schematic figure of drug:
Formula:
C49 H54 F2 N8 O6 (Ledipasvir) and C22 H29 F N3 O9 P (Sofosbuvir)
Molecular weight:
1,418.45 g/mol (ledipasvir = 889.00 g/mol, sofosbuvir =5 29.45)
CAS Number:
Harvoni (both): 1620486-68-1
Ledipasvir: 1256388-51-8
Sofosbuvir: 1190307-88-0
Delivery method: Pill
Side effects:
Other names:
ledipasvir-sofosbuvir
Maker or company:Gilead Sciences Inc.
Is it patented? Yes
Clinical Trials Info:
Those who had ben preiously treated for hepatitis C (type 1) had a cure rate for cirrhosis of 97-100% for 24 weeks of treatment while those with no cirrhosis had a 95% cure rate in 24 weeks of treatment.
Origin:
Alternatives to this drug:
Miscellaneous:
Other uses: can this drug be used to treat other diseases/conditions?